Apparatus for manufacturing continuous rubber articles



Jam.A 19, 1943- S. W. ALDERFER APPARATUS` FOR MANUFACTURING GNTINUOUS RUBBER ARTICLES Filed Aug. 26, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet l mm. WMV

Jan. 19, 1943. s'. w. ALDr-:RFER

APPARATUS Foa MANUFACTURING CONTINUOUS RUBBER ARTICLES' Fired Aug. 26, 195s 'sheets-sheet 2 ATTCRN EVS Jan. 19, 1943.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CONTINUOUS RUBBR ARTICLES s. w. ALDERFER Filed Aug. 26, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1; ggf

INVENTo-.R

ATTORNEYS Jan. 19, 1943. s, w ,M DERFERv l 2,308,949'

APPARATUS FOR MAUFACTURG CONTINUOUS RUBBR ARTICLES' Filed Aug. 26, 1938 5 .Sheets-Sheetr 4 INVENTOR ATTOR N EYS Jan. 19, 1943. s. lw. AL'DERFER' 2,308,949

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CONTINUOUS RUBBER ARTICLES y Filed Aug. 26, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 u'ml INVENTOR fff- ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19. 1943 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CON-V TINUOUS RUBBER ARTICLES Sterling W. 'Alderfer, Fairlawn, Ohio, assignor to TheFirestone- Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 26, 1938, Serial No. 226,954

6 Claims. (01.18-15) Thisinvention relates to apparatus for producing continuous rubber` articles such as threads, tubing, strips, or the like, andhas for its object the provision of novel apparatus for rapidlydepositing a continuous film of latex on an endless belt; for preventing the deposited film of latex from fouling the machine; for producing an elongated rubber product from such latex lm; for automaticallydusting the final product; and for facilitating the continuous windup of the final product. y

The foregoing and other objects will be made apparent by the following specification.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of apparatus embody'- ing the invention, with a side of the drying oven removed;

Figure 2 is a left side elevation of theA apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section of the oven, partly in elevation, taken on line 4-4- of Figure 3, with the endless belt removed; y

Figure 5 is a; transverse cross section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of a portion of the apparatus of Figure l with the rear cover and level-wind mechanism removed;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view showing the construction of the gear train driving the thread forming pulleys;

Figure 8 is an elevation, partly in section, of het means for depositing latex on the endless Figure 9 is a-vdetail elevation'takenon line 9 9' of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is an elevation of the level winding means of the invention.

The invention resides in a machine that is adapted to deposit latex continuously upon an endless metal belt and then form a rubber thread or other continuous Iproduct therefrom.- The belt is run through a drying oven in which the -belt is formed into convolutions to provide a moved. to reduce the per cent elongation of the rubber. 'Ihen the rubber thread is automatically dusted and wound on a drum. Means are associated with the endless belt for removing the strip of rubber coagulum to prevent lfouling-ffif the machine in case such rubber isl ynotpullefd therefrom by the pulleys in the customary man'- ner. The amount of latex deposited upon'the endless belt is made variable, so that a strip of rubber coagulumiof the desired size maybe formed by the apparatus of the invention. i

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 .show the general layout ofthe thread making machine 20 which includes a'main frame 2| and a suitably insulated drying oven 22.

Drive mechanism The main driving mechanism for the machine 20 is shown in Figure 6 and it includes an electric motor 23 and it connects to a second pulley 26, upon a shaft 21 that is journalled upon the main frame 2| of the machine 20. The shaft 21 carries a bevelled gear 28 (Figure 7) that engages with a beveled gear 29 upon a jack shaft 3|. The jack shaft 3|, extending substantially the height of the machine, is journalled on frame 2| by housings 32 and provides power at the desired places in the machine as will hereinafter appear.

Rubber supply A jar 33 is carried in an inverted position by a socket 34, having a handle thereon, that is supported on an integral arm 35 of the frame 2| (Figure 8) by capscrews 40 which slidably engage with means carried by the arm 35. The jar 33 has a lid .36, having a tubular arm 36a., secured to it, the lid 36 and arm 36a extending downwardly through a hole in the socket 34 with the arm 36a projecting into a tank 31. The tank 31 is carried on an arm 31a that is pivotally secured between the frame 2| and the arm 35 of the frame. Latex `from jar' 33 flows down through the tubular arm 36av into the tank 31 until suilicient latex collects to cover the end of the arm, when flow automatically` stops. Withdrawal of latex `from'the tank 31 sufficient to uncover the end of arm 36a automatically releases more latex so that a predetermined amount ofA latex can be maintained in the tank. The Jar A33Y and socket 34 can be slid upwardly to remove them from the machine.

A disc 381s carried on a shaft 39 that is .'lour\ nailed in the frame .2| by bearings and it is positioned with a portion of its peripheral surface by the jack shaft 3| which carries a sprocket 4| that engages with and drives a chain 42. This chain connects with a sprocket 43 upon a vertically extending shaft 44 (Figure 6), which is journalled on the main frame. The shaft 44 has a slot 45 cut therein and carries a cylindrical roller 46, which has a tong-ue thereon that engages Witli slot 45 to prevent relative movement between shaft 44 and roller 46. The roller 46 bears upon and drives a plate 41 formed integral with a cylindrical member 48 which extends `axially from the plate. The member 48 and plate 41 are journalled on a shaft 49 which is carried by the frame 2| with a spring 5| on shaft 49 bearing on the member 48 to force the plate 41 against the roller 46 (Figure 8). The plate 41 drives the disc 38 through a gear 48a which is associated with the member 48 and which engages a gear 59 on the shaft 39.

To vary the speed at which the disc 38 is driven, the radial position of the roller 46 on the plate 41 is made variable by supporting the roller on a' base member 52 that'is mounted for ver- .tical movement on rods 53 and 54 that are carried by the frame. The rod 54 is threaded and engages with a threaded hole through the base 52. A handle 55 is secured to one end of the rod 54, which is journalled on the frame 2|, whereby the rod 54 may be rotated to change the vertical position of\the base 52 and roller 46. The vertical movement of roller 46 is radial relative to the plate 41 (Figure 6);

The socket 34 is mounted for vertical movement on the arm 35 to control the position of the latex in tank 31 relative to the disc 38 by a block 56 that is slidably carried by the arm and that is provided with a threaded recess 51 (Figure 9) in its upper surface. The block 56 is supported by a threaded shaft 58 which engages y with the threaded recess 51 and which is `journalled on the arm 35. A spiral gear 59 is secured to the shaft 58 and it engages with a spiral gear 6| upon a shaft 62 that is journalled in arm 35 and that has a hand1e63 secured to it at one end. Rotation of the shaft 62 by the handle 63vrotates gears 59 and 6| and thereby rotates the shaft 58 which is held against vertical movement so that its rotation produces vertical movement of the block 56 and of the jar 33. This varies its position relative to the tank 31, changes the depth of the latex therein, and controls the amount of latex that the disc 38 picks lup in its rotation. A shield 60 may be placed in the tank 31 to prevent the disc from splashing latex.

An endless metal belt 64 is provided to receive the latex carried from the tank 31 by the disc 38. The belt 64 is carried by a sheave 65 (Figure 6) that is secured to a shaft 66 journalled in the frame 2|. vThe jack shaft 3| drives the sheave 65 by means of a beveled gear 61 which mates with a beveled pinion 68 on the jack shaft. This gear 61 is carriedA by a shaft 68a that is journalled on frame 2| and which has an enlarged end portion that carries a sprocket |59.` A chain 1| engages with the sprocket 69 and also with a relatively large sprocket 12 that is secured to the shaft 66, whereby a positive drive for the endless belt 64 is provided.

The position of the belt 64 relative to the disc 38 is controlled by a hardwood block 13 which isY carried by one end of a threaded rod 14 and bears upon the back of the belt (Figure 8). This rod engages with threaded recesses in two spaced tates the continuous deposition of latex on the 2,808,949 "etridig into the tank s1. The disc is rotated arms 15 protruding from the frame. A disc 16 engages with the rod 14 between the arms 15 so that rotation of the disc varies the position of the rod 14 and of the block 13 since the disc 16 is held against`vertical movement by the arms. Obviously, the position of the belt 64 in relation to the disc is important to secure the desired continuous uniform deposit of latexfon the belt. The belt :does not bear upon the disc 38 but is spaced a small distance therefrom, which distance depends upon the latex composition, the belt and disc speed, and the amount of latex desired on the belt.

Figure 1 shows that the disc 38 rotates in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the belt 64. This rotation of the disc 38 facilibelt and is one of the features of the invention.

Drying oven The endless belt 64, carrying the lm deposited thereon by the disk 38, is drawn directly from the sheave into the drying oven 22 through a small opening 8| in the side of the oven. The belt passes over a sheave 82 which is mounted in the oven adjacent the-center support 22a thereof ona journalled shaft 83. In order to provide a long length of belt travel in the oven, a plurality of pulleys are carried by shafts in the oven at the top and bottom thereof with certain pulleys, or sheaves being larger than others to provide apparatus for forming two sets of concentric convolutions of the belt 64 in the oven. Thus, the belt 64 is drawn from the sheave 82 to an aligned end sheave of a plurality of sheaves 84 that are by a shaft 88, suitably journalled in the frame' A adjacent the top of' the.r.oven. Thewsheave'81 directly above the 'sheave 82 is only used for spacing purposes in the present construction. Then the belt 64 is led from the sheave 81 which it contacts to the aligned member of the sheaves 84 which moves the belt transversely and aligns it with a second sheave of the sheaves 81. This is repeated until the belt 64 has been drawn around all of these sheaves.

From the'end member of the sheaves 81, the

belt is led to an aligned member of a plurality of sheaves 89 that are carried by a shaft 9| that is journalled on the center support 22a adjacent the bottom of the oven but which is above and substantially aligned with the shaft 83. The belt then passes to the aligned sheave of a plurality of sheaves 92 that are secured to a shaft 93 which is journalled in the oven 22 adjacent the top thereof, but underneath the shaft 88. The adjacent sheaves may be spaced by discs, if desired. Figure 4 shows that the shaft 93 mounts the sheaves 92 at a slight angle to the sheaves 89 to provide transverse movement of the belt 64 to align it with the next member of the sheaves 89. The belt is drawn around the sets of sheaves 89 and 92 until all of the sheaves 89 have been utilized, and then the belt is drawn from the oven 22 through a small opening 94 in the side of the oven. In the last convolution of the belt in the oven, the belt is drawn over a purpose.

y sheave 95 which is journalled on a shaft 96 that is aligned with and below the sheave 82. This is necessary, since the sheave 82 is 1directly in the path of the loop of belt formed around last sheave 89. Figure 1 illustrates how the plurality of convolutions of the belt are formed in the oven by making the sheaves 82, 84, and 81, larger than the sheaves 89, 92, and 95, whereby the first set of convolutions is formed around the larger sheaves and the second series of convolutions is formed inside the first.

The desired tension is maintained upon the belt 64 by hanging the shaft 85 and sheaves 84 in the belts convolutions with weights 90 being placed on 'the shaft 85 to aid in tensioning the belt. The shaft 85 is therefor only positioned by the center support 22a and permitted to move vertically relative thereto.

Any latex carried upon the belt 64 in its travel through the oven 22 must be formed into a rub'- and its speed usually is slightly greater than the ber coagulum, and any suitable means for supplying heat to the `o ven 22 are provided for this In the embodiment illustrated, steam heat is used and this is provided through a pipe 91 which provides steam to a radiator 98 which is in the flue formed in the oven by a baille plate 99. Steam is exhausted from the radiator through pipe4 91a which has a water trap therein. Air is circulated through the oven 22 by a blower which connects to the radiator 98 by a conduit |0|. The blower draws air through a door |02 in the conduit and forces it through the radiator and up into the flue formed by the-baite plate 93. Then the air is forced down through and around the convolutions of the belt 64 and finally is drawn back into Vthe conduit |0|.

Control means, which may include a temperature control and recorder |03, are provided to regulate the flow of the steam through the radiator. The recorder |03 is of standard construction and includes a temperature sensitive member |04 which is positioned in the oven 22. The

recorder controls the air pressure in a pipe |05.

which connects to an air-valve |062 This valve is connected in the steam pipe 91, so that variations in pressure in the pipe |05 control the setting of the valve |06 and thereby the steam flow through the radiator and temperature of the oven 22. Usually the latex should only be dried into a flat rubber strip in the oven and not be vulcanized appreciably while therein, the terrperature cf-the oven and the speed of the belt being regulated to achieve this purpose.

Rubber thread formation The belt 64, carrying the strip of rubber ccagulum, is drawn over a sheave when it emerges from the oven 22 and then it passes over a sheave ||2, adjacent the top of the frame 2|, priorto completing its circuit i. Ae. passing under the hardwood block 13 adjacent the disc 38. The sheaves and ||2 are secured to shafts ||3 and 4, respectively, that are suitably j ournalled on the frame 2 TheA strip of'rubber on the belt 64 i's drawn therefrom by' a pulley Ils which is secured to the shaft 21 that is driven by the motor 23.\ The pulley 26 has a gear I6 formed integrally therewith which engages with a gear ||1 on a shaf-L ||8 which is journalled in the frame bybearings ||9 and which carries a pulley |2| in alignment with the pulley ||5. Thus pulley |2| is positiveli1 driven and the speeds of the pulleys ||5 and I2 an arcuate slot in the frame.

svely stretch the -rubber strip to approximately 500% elongation in drawing it from the belt 64.

A pulley |23, having a frusto-conical flange |24, is secured to a shaft |25 which is mounted on bearings |26 in frame 2|. The pulley |23 is positioned so that the flange |24 bears upon one edge of the flat rubber strip drawn from the belt 64 and rollsI it laterally upon itself in the manner described in my Patent No. 2,070,388 issued February 9, 1937. lThe pulley |23 desirably is driven at 'a controllable speed from the main drive of the machine to vary the tension, or elongation, of the rubber for different products speed of the pulley |2|. Thus the gear ||6 also engages with a gear |21 which is journalled upon a shaft |28 that is carried by the frame'Zl. This gear |21 drives a gear |29 which is mounted on a shaft |3| that is journalled by bearings |32 in a sleeve |30 secured in the frame (Figure 7).

The shaft |25 is positively driven by the gear |29` through a gear |32 which engages with a gear |33 on shaft |25. The gear |32 is rotatively carried byI a shaft |34 that is secured in An arm is rotatively carried by the sleeve |30 to engage with and aid in positioning the shaft |34. The shaft |34 has nuts |36 engaged with its ends which, when loosened, permit arcuate movement of the shaft |34 relative to the shaft |3|. This varies the distance between the shaft |34 and the gears |29 and |33, whereby varying sized gears may be inserted therebetween'to vary the speed of the pulley |23 and thus the tension in the rubber strip drawn thereover.

VA pulley |31 is secured to a shaft |38 that is journalled in the frame 2|; the pulley |31 being adjacent and in substantial alignment with the pulley |2| (Figure 1'). The rubber strip is led over he upper surface of the pulley |31 'from 'the lower surface of the pulley |2| to position 'frame to prevent the rubber strip from being wound between the pulleys and the frame.

The pulleys |31 and |39 are driven by the shaft |25 and ordinarily at the same speed as the pulley |23. The shafts |25, |38, and |4| all *carry double flanged pulleys, |42 adjacent the ends thereof extending from the frame. 2|, the pulleys |42 being remote fromV the rubber carrying pulleys. The pulleys |42 carry a belt |44 that also passes over pulleys |45 and |46 which are journalled on shafts |41 and |48 thatare carried by the frame. This permits the belt |44 to drive the pulleys |31 and |39 in the desired direction. Shaft v|48 is adjustably received in a -slot |43 in the framefwhereby its position can be varied to control the tension in the belt |44. i

While the pulley |23 is carried and driven by the shaft |25, its position relative to the frame 2| is controlled by a yoke |49 with which the pulley is .rotatively associated. The yoke is carried. by a rod |53 which is slidably received in the frame and which engages with an adjusting nut |5011. This nut is retained in xed relation to the frame by a locking arm |592) whereby rotation of the nut varies the position of the rod and thereby thatof the pulley |23 relative .to the frame. Thus the positionl of the flange |24 with relation to the other pulleys and to the belt can be changed whereby the amount of rolling action exerted upon the rubber tape Ican be varied, as desired.

v Dusting apparatus After passing over the pulley |39, the rubber thread passes around a horizontally positioned pulley (Figure 6) which is carried by the upper end of a shaft |52 that is rotatively associated with the frame 2|. The pulley |5| is beveled inwardly from its upper to its lower edge to force the thread to remain at the lowest portion thereof. The lower end of the shaft |52 extends from the frame 2| and carries a pulley |53 whi'ch has a belt |54 engaged therewith. The belt |54 also engages with a pulley |55 that is secured to the jack shaft 3| which thereby -drives the pulley |5|. The apparatus preferably is constructed so that the pulley |5| is driven at substantially the peripheral speed of the pulley |23.

The rubber thread passes across a circular table |58 in reaching the pulley |5| from pulley |39. A suitable dusting material, such as soapstone, is piled upon the table in the path of the thread to deposit upon the thread land permit it to be wound upon itself withoutadhesion. The

table |58 is carried by a vertically extending shaft |51 which is journalled in the frame 2| and which has a worm wheel |58 secured to its lower Y end. The worm wheel is driven by a worm gear ISI which is carried by a shaft |62 journalled on the frame. Thedriven shaft |3| drives the shaft |62 by a chain |63 which engages sprockets |64 and |65 on the shafts |3| and |82 respectively. Thus the table |58 is slowly rotated whereby the rubber thread automatically is continually cutting a new path through the dusting material, which is supplied to the table |55 in any suitable manner.

Excess dusting material upon the rubber thread is drawn therefrom by an exhaust flue |15 which is adjacent the path of the thread. The flue |15 connects to a centrifugal pump |18'that is driven by a motor |11 and that produces a suction in the flue |15. An output ue |18 is provided to dispose of the exhausted material.

Windup apparatus Two cylindrical drums |8| are removably carried by shafts |82 that are journalled in the frame 2|. Thednims |8| (Figure 2) are vertically aligned and are positioned so that their adjacent edges are substantially in horizontal alignment with the rubber thread as it isdrawn from the pulley |5|. Two drums are provided so that the thread may be immediately started upon one drum after the other has the desired amount of thread thereon, thus permittingreis. ournalled in the frame 2| and carries a secondgear |91 that drives a gear |98 through gear l |99. The gear |99 is journalled upon a shaft 209 that is secured in an arcuate slot in the frame so that the relative position of the shaft 200 and the Vgear |91 can be Vvaried to change the windby the shaft |98and engage with the shaft 200 to aid in positioning it. A journalled shaft 202 mounts the gear |98 on the frame 2| and carries a sprocket 203. This sprocket engages with a chain 204 that engages with sprockets 205 on the shafts |82 carrying the drums |8|. An auxiliary sprocket 208, carried by a shaft journalled in the frame, engages with the chain 204, as shown, (Figure 2) so that the drums |8| are driven inthe desired opposite directions.

Standard level winding means are provided to wind the thread upon the drums |8|. These means include an arm 2|0 (Figure 10) which is slidably supported by the frame 2| and which carries at one end a guide 2| I, having agroove 2|2 in its upper surface. The other end of the arm 2|0 carries a pin 2| 3 which engages with a groove 2|4 in the periphery of a circular, substantially S shaped in section, cam plate 2|5. On rotation, the cam plate 2|5 is adapted to move the arm 2|0 and thereby the guide 2|| back and forth over a predetermined length horizontal path. Naturally, the guide 2|| is positioned in the normal course of the rubber thread between the pulley |5| and the drums |8| and it receives the thread in the groove 2|2. Cam plate 2|5 is secured to a shaft 2|5 that is journalled in the frame 2|. This shaft also carries a gear 22| which engages with any one of a set of gears 222 by varying its position on the shaft 2| 6. The gears 222 are carried by a shaft 223 that is journalled in the frame 2| and which carries still another gear 224. Theshaft 223 is received in a slot 225 in the frame, whereby its position relative to the gear 22| may be changed to permit different gears of the set 222 to mate with the gear 22|. The shaft 223 and thereby the level wind mechanism is driven by a suitable electric motor |83 that is mounted on the frame 2| and that is connected to a speed reducer |84 by a belt |85. The motor is provided with a standard speed control that includes a sheave |85 which can vary its effective radius. The motor |83 is slidably mounted upon the frame 2| so that its position relative to the speed reducer |84 and the actual revolutionary speed transmitted to the reducer may be varied. The position of the motoi` |83 is controlled by a hand wheel |81 which controls a threaded rod that engages with the base of the motor |83. The slow-speed side of the speed reducer |84 comprises a shaft |89 which carries a gear |9|. This gear engages with and drives a gear |92 that is journalled on a shaft |93 secured to the frame 2| which gear |92 in turn engages with and drives the gear 224.

Belt cleaning mechanism A suitable electric motor 24| (Figure 6) is secured to the frame 2| adjacent the path of the endless belt 64 at a point in the belts path at which the strip of rubber coagulum normally is removed from the belt. A circular brush. or buffer 242, which is made from any suitable mate rial, is mounted upon a shaft 243 that is journalled in a bracket 244 of the frame 2 A hardwood block 240 'is carried by the frame in the path of the belt 64 to force it to contact the brush 242, Theshaft 243 carries a pulley 245 at its upper end and the lower end of the shaft extends several inches beyond the brush 242 towards the point at which the rubber strip normally is pulled from the belt. A belt 246 extends between the pulley 245 and a pulley 241 on the shaft of the motor 24| to rotate the brush 242 and the shaft 243. Rotation of the brush serves to clean off any small particles'of rubber coagulum on the belt and, if the strip of rubber isnot removed from the belt in the ordinary manner, the brush 242 also sweeps such coagulum oi the belt. This lengthy rubber strip then is lrapidly wound upon the protruding end of the shaft 243 by the rotation thereof and, when desired, can be readily removed therefrom. By collecting the rubber on the shaft 243, it is prevented from fouling the apparatus in any manner. This novel cleaning device completely re-` moves ali rubber from the belt 64 regardless of the rapidity of movement thereof.

The belt 64 may be drawn by a cleaning block 248, which is secured to the frame 2| by a holder-l 249, after passing the brush 242.A The hardwood block 240 also may force the belt against the block 248, as shown. The cleaning block may be made of any desired material to clean the tape further prior to depositing more latex thereon and may even comprise a wick which is continuously supplied with water.l

Operation;

In operation, a continuous wet film of latex is deposited on the endless belt 64 as it is drawn by the rotating disc 38. This wet latex 'is dried into a rubber film in the oven 22, which endless strip of rubber is pulled from the belt 64 after it leaves the oven by pulleys H5 and |2| which progressively stretch the rubber strip. The tensioned rubber strip is laterally rolled upon itself to form `a rubber thread, or tube and then drawn through the dusting material carried by table |56 after which the thread is led'to the wind-up drums |8| and distributed evenly thereover, under tension if desired, by the level winding mechanism provided. To prepare the endless belt for receiving another'lm of latex, the

circular brush 242 and cleaning block 248 function to remove all foreign material upon the endless belt 64. The clean belt is then drawn by the "disc 38 and the process repeated whereby a continuous rubber thread .is produced by the machine'.k n

The word latex in the 'specification and claims is intended to mean any natural or artificial dispersion of rubber, which may be either vulcanized or unvulcanized, as desired.

By varying the functioning of the pulley |23, it should be noted that a rubber tube can be produced while omission of that pulley causes the machine to yield a product of rubber tape.

Obviously the speeds of the various pulleys and windup drums may be varied in accordance'with the product desired.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have illustrated and described the structure and mode of operation of an embodiment of the invention. However, it will be understood that various modiiications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as dened in .the'appended vbelt foi-.movement along a portion of said frame.

means connecting said jack shaft to said b'elt to vdrive it, a tank supported by said frame, means for maintaining latex in said tank at a predetermined level, a cylindrical disc mounted with a portion of its periphery extending into the latex in said tank and being positioned immediately adjacent a portion of said belt, variable speed drive means connecting said disc to said jack shaft to rotate said disc, rotation of said disc depositing a continuous lm of latex upon said belt, means for varying thel level of the latex in said tank whereby. the amount of latexV deyposited upon said belt can be controlled, a drying oven positioned adjacent said frame and receiving said belt afterlatex is deposited thereon by said disc, a pluralityof sheaves journalled in the top and bottom of'said drying oven and engaging with said belt to dry the latex on said belt in strip form as it is drawn through said 2o from said oven, a plurality of pulleys journalled articles, such as threads, strips, tubes, lor the like, comprising a frame, an endless belt, means for driving said belt, means mounting saidbelt for, movement along a portion of said frame, means for depositing a continuous film of latex upon said belt as it is drawn by said frame, a drying-oven, means positioning said belt in a plurality of convolutions in said oven to dry the latex thereon as said belt is drawn therethrough,

means leading said belt back to said frame to complete its circuit, means for pulling said rubber strip from said belt and progressively stretching,rv it, means bearing upon said belt after said rubber strip normally is removed therefrom and rotating at right-angles thereto to clean said belt, means through which said rubber strip isl drawn for continuously applying a dusting material saidrubber strip whereby oneof said wind-up means can be changed While said rubber strip is -being collected by another of said wind-up means.

3.- Apparatus for producing continuous rubber articles, such as threads, strips, tubes, or the like, comprising a frame., an endless belt, means for driving said belt, means mounting said belt for movement along a portion of said frame, means 5 for depositing a film of latex upon said belt as it is drawn by said frame means for varying the amount of latex deposited upon said belt, means for' drying the latex into a rubber strip, means for pulling said rubber strip from said belt andstretchingit, means for automatically applying a dusting material to said rubber strip, means for exhausting excess dusting material from said rubber strip, and wind-up means for'collecting said rubber strip, said wind-up means having level wind means associated therewith to deposit said rubber strip evenly thereover.

. 4. Apparatus for producing continuous rubber articles; said apparatus comprising a frame, a motor associated with said frame, a jack shaft journalled on said frame and being rotatably with said frame and driven by said motor through said jack shaft, a tank supported by said fr'ame, means for maintaining latex in said tank at a predetermined level,- ai cylindrical disc oven, means leading said belt back to said frame thereto, and a plurality of wind-upv means for driven by said motor, an endless belt associated mounted with a portion of its periphery extending into the latex in said tank and with another portion of its periphery immediately adjacent a portion of said belt, means for varying the level of the latex in said tank, variable speed drive means connecting said disc to said jack shaft to rotate said disc oppositely to the movement of said belt to deposit a continuous even iilm of latex upon said belt. a drying oven positioned adjacent said frame through which said belt passes after latex is deposited thereon by said disc to dry the latex to form a rubber strip, a plurality of pulleys journalled on said frame and being driven by said jack shaft, said pulleys pulling the strip ofrubber from said belt after it passes through said drying oven and progressively stretching the rubber strip, a anged pulley carried by said frame and positively driven by said jack shaft to roll the rubber strip laterally upon itself, a member adapted to carry dusting material journalled on said frame and rotated by said jack shaft, means leading said rolled rubber strip over said member to pass the said strip through said dusting material which constantly has a new path cut therethrough, and means for removing excess dusting material from said rolled rubber strip.

5. Apparatus for manufacturing continuous rubber articles, such as threads, strips, tubes, or

the like, comprising an endless moving belt, means for depositing a lm of latex on said belt, means for drying the latex into a rubber strip. means for` pulling said rubber strip from said belt, a substantially circular brush mounted to bear upon said belt at a position at which there normally is no rubber thereon, means for rotating said brush against and across said belt, and a shaft member rotating with said brush and extending out substantially axially from said brush towards the approaching portion of said belt whereby said belt is kept clean by said brush sweeping ou any rubber on said belt which rubber, when of appreciable length, is collected upon said shaft member by the rotation thereof.

6. Apparatus for manufacturing continuous rubber articles, such as threads, strips, tubes, or

the like, comprising an endlessy moving belt, means for depositing a lm of latex on said belt, means for drying the latex into a rubber strip, means for pulling said rubber strip from said belt, a at horizontal' rotating member adapted to carry dusting material, means 'leading said rubber strip over said horizontal member to pass the said strip through said dusting material which constantly has a new path cut therethrough, and means for pulling oi excess dusting material from said strip.

STERLING W. ALDERFER. 

